**5. Banana in global traditional medicine and beliefs including geographical spread**

#### **5.1 Banana in global traditional medicine and beliefs**

Parts of banana, which include roots, pseudostems, stems, leaves, and flowers, have long been utilized in local and traditional medicine in America, Asia, Oceania, India, and Africa [57]. Based on the resources of Iranian traditional medicine, bananas are prescribed for depressed patients [58]. Iranian traditional medicine as a complementary and alternative medicine involves several non-pharmacological treatments, among which food therapy is the most notable. Data from an Arabic source indicate that *Musa* species is useful against heat in the chest, lungs, and the bladder, and softens the stomach [59]. Report by [60] confirmed that banana fruit from India have been used traditionally to fight off a large number of sicknesses. This attribute is due to the presence of various constituents present in the fruit. For example, the anti-depressive role, blood pressure control, and anti-anemic property may be due to the presence of banana's tryptophan, high potassium, and high iron contents, respectively. Banana also helps during body's recovery from nicotine withdrawal thereby helping people to quit smoking perhaps because banana is rich in not only potassium and sodium but also vitamins B6 and B12. The ability of banana to revamp normal bowel action, attributed to its high fiber content, made it a good candidate for treating constipation. It is also used in heartburns and ulcers due to natural antacid effects as well as in stress conditions ascribed to the presence of potassium. Topical application of banana peel has long been used in treating burn wounds in Brazilian local and traditional medicine [61]. Wounds were wrapped around with cataplasm prepared using peels of ripe bananas which can serve as an analgesic and also reduce swelling. In case of urgency, banana peel can be wrapped directly around an injury due to its antiseptic nature [62].

Banana peel contains anti-histamines, which works by subduing and blocking histamines such that the effect of the histamines is undone. Histamines are the chemical compounds released in body cells that cause allergic reactions. Hence, it is applied on bug bites, where anti-histamines in the banana peel sink into the skin and prevent further swelling and cure itching [63].

## **5.2 Banana geographical spread**

Worldwide distribution of some banana cultivars according to their genomic group is summarized in **Table 1** below.


**19**

*Pharmacological Activities of Banana*

ABB Figo Vermelho or Figo Cinza Bluggoe Fougamou

**6. Conclusion**

*plantain varieties. Source: [64–68].*

**Table 1.**

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

No conflict of interest.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83299*

Bananas are widely used all over the world as food staples and for medicinal purposes. This is for their interesting bioactive secondary metabolites. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies of bananas and plantain are expanding as it has been demonstrated that *Musa* species extracts possess numerous pharmacological activities, which are ascribed to their phyto-constituents like phenols, carotenoid, and amines. There is a growing interest in developing a banana-based phytomedicine for wound healing and treating Parkinson's disease, considering the ethnopharmacological data available on the potentials of banana fruit. To achieve that, issues such as modality, quality control, efficacy, safety, and toxicity need to be addressed at both preclinical and clinical levels. Finally, looking at the genetic diversity of banana species and its adaptation to different environmental conditions, ethnopharmacological investigations will provide the suitable support needed for clinical usage of secondary metabolites of banana species in modern medicine. Furthermore, thorough phytochemical screening needs to be undertaken to ascertain the active components in different types of extracts of banana parts. This will enrich the literature and provide a solid base for scientific arguments as against the

**Genomic group Cultivar Fruit usage Geographical distribution**

ABBB Klue Terapod Cooking Philippines and America BBB Saba Cooking Indonesia and Malaysia *Note: Represents combinations of the Musa balbisiana Colla and M. acuminata Colla genomes. Cooking means* 

AABB Ouro da Mata Dessert banana Brazil

*Banana geographical distribution showing genomic group, cultivar, and type.*

Dessert banana Cooking Dessert banana Brazil

Philippines and America Philippines and America

The authors want to thank Associate Professor Ibrahim Khalil Adam, Dr. Aishatu Muhammad Gadanya, and Dr. Salihu Ibrahim Isma'il for their valuable suggestions

current reliance on empirical and anecdotal assumptions.

and encouragement throughout the preparation of this manuscript.


*Note: Represents combinations of the Musa balbisiana Colla and M. acuminata Colla genomes. Cooking means plantain varieties. Source: [64–68].*

**Table 1.**

*Banana Nutrition - Function and Processing Kinetics*

due to its antiseptic nature [62].

**5.2 Banana geographical spread**

AA Frayssinette, Figue sucrée Ouro

AAA Gros Michel, Lacatan Poyo Intuntu Caipira Yangambi-5 Grand Nain, Valery

Mujuba

Sukari

Prata, Branca, Pacovan French, Horn Corne

Terra, Pacovan, D'Angola

Batard, Mbouroukou-1, Mbouroukou-3

AB Safet Velchi

AAB Maca, Silk

group is summarized in **Table 1** below.

and prevent further swelling and cure itching [63].

India, and Africa [57]. Based on the resources of Iranian traditional medicine, bananas are prescribed for depressed patients [58]. Iranian traditional medicine as a complementary and alternative medicine involves several non-pharmacological treatments, among which food therapy is the most notable. Data from an Arabic source indicate that *Musa* species is useful against heat in the chest, lungs, and the bladder, and softens the stomach [59]. Report by [60] confirmed that banana fruit from India have been used traditionally to fight off a large number of sicknesses. This attribute is due to the presence of various constituents present in the fruit. For example, the anti-depressive role, blood pressure control, and anti-anemic property may be due to the presence of banana's tryptophan, high potassium, and high iron contents, respectively. Banana also helps during body's recovery from nicotine withdrawal thereby helping people to quit smoking perhaps because banana is rich in not only potassium and sodium but also vitamins B6 and B12. The ability of banana to revamp normal bowel action, attributed to its high fiber content, made it a good candidate for treating constipation. It is also used in heartburns and ulcers due to natural antacid effects as well as in stress conditions ascribed to the presence of potassium. Topical application of banana peel has long been used in treating burn wounds in Brazilian local and traditional medicine [61]. Wounds were wrapped around with cataplasm prepared using peels of ripe bananas which can serve as an analgesic and also reduce swelling. In case of urgency, banana peel can be wrapped directly around an injury

Banana peel contains anti-histamines, which works by subduing and blocking histamines such that the effect of the histamines is undone. Histamines are the chemical compounds released in body cells that cause allergic reactions. Hence, it is applied on bug bites, where anti-histamines in the banana peel sink into the skin

Worldwide distribution of some banana cultivars according to their genomic

**Genomic group Cultivar Fruit usage Geographical distribution**

AAAA Champa Nasik Dessert banana East African highland AAAB Goldfinger Dessert banana America and Australia

Dessert banana Dessert banana

Dessert banana Cooking Dessert banana Dessert banana Dessert banana Cooking

Dessert banana Dessert banana

Dessert banana Dessert banana Cooking Cooking Cooking Dessert banana All continents Brazil

All continents East African highland

Central and West Africa

East African highland

India and East Africa India and East Africa

All continents Brazil, India and Egypt Africa Caribbean Africa Caribbean Belgium Brazil

Brazil

Egypt

**18**

*Banana geographical distribution showing genomic group, cultivar, and type.*
